Making packaging recovery smarter, fairer, and more impactful
Consultancy for producers, system operators and governments developing effective DRS and EPR systems.
Why current collection systems fall short
Every year, millions of beverage containers end up as litter in streets, parks, and waterways, contributing to environmental pollution and increasing cleanup costs for communities.
Many of these bottles and cans are made from valuable, recyclable materials, yet they are often discarded improperly or collected through systems that mix waste streams, resulting in contamination and lower-quality recycling. This leads to downcycling rather than true circular use, wasting resources and energy while driving up carbon emissions. Rising waste management expenses and declining recycling rates, highlight the need for more effective systems that prevent litter and enable more and high-quality material recovery.
Deposits are in the spotlights
But how exactly does this work? And how to get from legislation or a theoretical model to an efficient operating system in practice?
Mind the Zebra helps trade associations, companies and governments with issues in the area of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for (beverage) packaging and in particular in the field of deposits. From an initial introduction to modeling and all the way towards the actual introduction of DRS.
What do zebras have to do with deposit systems?
At first glance, every zebra looks the same. Look closer — each one is unique. The same applies to Deposit Return Systems. No two markets are identical. Regulation, infrastructure, consumer behaviour, retail structure and political context all differ in critical detail.
Designing an effective DRS requires recognising those differences — and responding to them precisely. There is no copy-paste model. There is only the right model for your market. That’s where Mind the Zebra comes in.
About Mind the Zebra
We are a boutique advisory firm specialised exclusively in Deposit Return Systems (DRS). We help governments, producers, and DRS administrators design, implement and optimise high-performing, future-proof deposit systems.
Together with our partners and a trusted network of leading local experts, we operate internationally—combining deep technical expertise with hands-on operational experience.
“The discussion about whether DRS can be the solution can only be conducted properly if you understand how DRS works. For that reason alone, good preparation is essential.”
— Raymond Gianotten, Mind the Zebra
Ready to design a system that works?
Effective Deposit Return Schemes require more than legislation. They require strategic design, stakeholder alignment, and operational clarity.